Heated wiper assembly

Abstract

A heated wiper assembly includes a wiping element adapted to contact a surface to be wiped. The heated wiper assembly also includes at least one elongated beam acting to support the wiping element. The heated wiper assembly further includes a pair of end caps operatively mounted to ends of the beam and an airfoil operatively mounted to the beam and extending between the end caps. The heated wiper assembly includes a plurality of heating elements extending longitudinally along lateral sides of the airfoil adjacent the wiping element to heat the wiping element to resist snow and ice build-up on the wiper assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A heated wiper assembly comprising:
 a wiping element adapted to contact a surface to be wiped; 
 at least one elongated beam acting to support said wiping element; 
 a pair of end caps operatively mounted to ends of said beam; 
 an airfoil operatively mounted to said beam and extending between said end caps, said airfoil having a body with a recess extending inwardly from a bottom surface thereof to form legs having lateral sides extending longitudinally, said airfoil including a plurality of longitudinally extending carrier members spaced laterally and disposed in said recesses along said lateral sides; and 
 a plurality of heating elements extending longitudinally through said carrier members along lateral sides of said airfoil adjacent said wiping element to provide heat to said wiping element to resist snow and ice build-up on said wiper assembly. 
 
     
     
       2. A heated wiper assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said heating elements comprise at least one wire. 
     
     
       3. A heated wiper assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein each of said end caps include a recess extending therein. 
     
     
       4. A heated wiper assembly as set forth in  claim 3  including at least one end cap connector disposed in said recess to connect electrically longitudinal ends of said heating elements. 
     
     
       5. A heated wiper assembly as set forth in  claim 1  including a coupler adapted to connect said at least one elongated beam to a wiper arm. 
     
     
       6. A heated wiper assembly as set forth in  claim 5  including at least one jumper to connect electrically said heating elements together and being disposed below said coupler. 
     
     
       7. A heated wiper assembly comprising:
 a wiping element adapted to contact a surface to be wiped; 
 at least one elongated beam acting to support said wiping element; 
 a pair of end caps operatively mounted to longitudinal ends of said at least one elongated beam; 
 an airfoil operatively mounted to said at least one elongate beam and extending between said end caps, said airfoil having a body with a recess extending inwardly from a bottom surface thereof to form legs having lateral sides extending longitudinally, said airfoil including a plurality of longitudinally extending carrier members spaced laterally and disposed in said recess along said lateral sides; 
 a plurality of heating elements extending longitudinally, one of said heating elements extending longitudinally through one of said carrier members and being disposed along one of said lateral sides of said airfoil adjacent said wiping element to provide heat to said wiping element to resist snow and ice build-up on said wiper assembly. 
 
     
     
       8. A heated wiper assembly as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said carrier members contact said wiping element. 
     
     
       9. A heated wiper assembly as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said heating elements comprise at least one wire. 
     
     
       10. A heated wiper assembly as set forth in  claim 7  wherein each of said end caps include a recess extending therein. 
     
     
       11. A heated wiper assembly as set forth in  claim 10  including at least one end cap connector disposed in said recess to connect electrically longitudinal ends of said heating elements. 
     
     
       12. A heated wiper assembly as set forth in  claim 7  including a coupler adapted to connect said at least one elongated beam to a wiper arm. 
     
     
       13. A heated wiper assembly as set forth in  claim 12  including at least one jumper to connect electrically said heating elements together and being disposed below said coupler.